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Helsinki for Design Hunters

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Helsinki for Design Hunters

Whether you are shopping or just exploring, the Finnish capital is a city with some serious style credentials. Great design can be found throughout the city, reaffirming just why it was designated a 2012 World Design Capital.

If you crave cool, the best place to start the perfect day in Helsinki is the Design District around Diana Park. Follow the black-and-white stickers and discover a hip neighbourhood of 200 trendy boutiques, galleries and eateries. It is a shopping heaven for design aficionados.

This creative hub of 25 streets offers an edgy assortment of fashion, furniture, antiques, home wares and avant-garde accessories. For example, if you want seductive footwear then visit the Minna Parikka Boutique, while the Design Forum is great for crafts and design classics.

Helsinki

Helsinki is a modern, pocket-sized European city known for design and high technology. Helsinki’s attractive and unique character comes from its proximity to the sea, as well as its location between the East and the West.

Bold is beautiful

For odd ball souvenirs, don’t miss the Secret Shop, a diminutive emporium of whimsical items by Aamu Song and Johan Olin. A visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art located next door is also well worth it for its cool shop and café… not to mention the amazing art and architecture.

If up-market design is more your thing, take a stroll down the café-lined Esplanade. Must-sees include the immaculate Artek furniture showroom, the deliciously colourful new flagship store of world-renowned design house Marimekko.

Walk on the wild side

MinnaParikka designs high-glam footwear and accessories with a surreal twist.

“My designs are almost like love letters from one high heel shoe lover to another. “

Samuji

Their ambition is to produce timeless and sustainable design that serves a purpose yet carries a story.

Fashion forward

If you can drag yourself away from the high street of Scandinavian chic, make your way to Kiseleff House in the historic Senate Square. Shop for achingly stylish accessories at the new flagship boutique of handbag brand called Lumi.

One great aspect about Helsinki is that you will find design everywhere, not only in the high-end boutiques.

Colour your world

For bold prints and distinctive textiles, look no further than the brand-new Marimekko flagship store on the Esplanade.

SSHH… DON’T TELL!

Looking for a maxi-sized necktie or shoes that look like miniature cars? The Secret Shop offers an assortment of off beat fashion and knickknacks.